Development on Australian shores

The dilemma facing Townsville is one that has already been faced by many Australian coastal communities. Is the development of our shores an inevitable part of 'progress' or is there a different path to the future?

Sometimes I think it takes a visitor to see something special that locals simply take for granted.

In Townsville’s case, the Strand – the road with its parkland running along the Townsville foreshore. Unlike the frontages of many other coastal cities, its charm has been enhanced over the years by a deliberate local government policy to keep the height of buildings low and the associated parkland green and inviting for the people to relax in and to enjoy.

I’m certainly not opposed to development per se but I do feel that development should be harnessed and managed so that it takes into account the wishes of the citizenry as well as the aspirations of professional planners and developers.

The proposal

Townsville’s Draft City Plan, which is now open for public comment, has indicated that with an estimated significant increase in population over the next 15 years it is essential that certain areas of the city should become more densely settled and developed and that one of these areas includes the Strand.

The Plan sees a future for many more units along the Strand and many more ground level facilities with the expectation that these facilities will bring more people into the Strand area. Included amongst the Draft Plan’s recommendations is the raising of the building heights along the Strand (from Gregory Street to the Townsville Rock Pool) to five stories from the current three with a clear encouragement expressed for the construction of restaurants, cafes, coffee shops etc. at ground level.

Tony Wode, Senior Media Spokesman for the Townsville City Council puts it this way: “The Draft City Plan proposes an increase in maximum heights on the Strand to five storeys to provide certainty and consistency with building heights and to encourage more street level commercial and tourism activities in the city’s prime tourism promenade.”

There are, however, people in the Townsville community (including myself) who question the wisdom of these objectives. In particular, the following questions are being raised:

Do Townsville citizens actually want the proposed change from the low key charm of the present Strand to the very different attraction of a more commercialised, densely populated area?

In the event that the recommendations for the Strand go ahead, how will the current inadequate car parking for people from the suburbs (specially at weekends) be handled?

How will the likely increase in noise and over-crowding be managed?

Have the effects of future high winds and possible tidal inundation along the foreshore been considered when, inevitably, the next cyclone strikes Townsville?

And how will the family-friendly qualities that make the Strand so special be maintained when traffic issues and a changed amenity effectively reduce its accessibility and appropriateness for Townsville families?

When all’s said and done, the Strand covers a relatively small section of the area affected by the Council’s draft plan. Why can it not remain the iconic gem it currently is – a uniquely charming place for the community and for the many thousands of tourists who visit it each year?

Citizen journalism

Citizen journalism is an opportunity for residents to explore, debate and provide public comment on important issues.

Believing that the Townsville’s Draft City Plan affects the entire community, I decide to consult the people to find out their views about development on the Strand.

As a first step I take myself off on a typical Spring weekend to speak directly with people who are actually using the Strand and speak with 25 people, five of whom declare themselves in favour of the Draft City Plan, four of these say that they are involved in the construction industry or rent/own property on the Strand, and 20 people whom express opposition.

The first is a family who are visiting from Melbourne. Thomas (54), wife Sonya (48) and their two children Tim (10) and Lara (18).

When I ask them what they think of the Strand, Thomas answers, quite simply, “It’s a masterpiece.”

I inform him that the Draft City Plan proposes to lift the current building heights along the Strand from three storeys to five and to make way for the development of cafes, restaurants and coffee shops at the ground level of new blocks.

“Why would the Council want to do that?” he asks. “I’ve seen how beautiful frontages like Townsville’s have been changed right around the world. You only have to look at places like the Costa Brava in Spain. Many of the beach fronts there are now walls of high rise buildings with heavy traffic, social problems, dirtiness and noise. Do you want that to happen to your Strand?”

Another family a little further along the parkland echo his thoughts.

Darryl, his wife Vicki, son Jacob (9) and grand-daughter Savanah (17 months) are Townsville residents enjoying a day beside the beach. As they relax under one of the big shady trees, Daryl and Vicki describe a recent visit to another seaside community along the Queensland coast.

“It’s so commercialised now,” they say. “There are more shops and cafes but it’s crowded and unpleasant, there are road works everywhere and there isn’t enough parking for people who want to stop and sight-see.”

They consider this type of development on Townsville's Strand.

“Once these things are done, they can’t be undone.”

A couple sitting close by, Julia (19) and Janek (21) from Hanover in Germany add their perspective to the conversation.

“This is such a lovely place,” they say, as they point out the tranquil parklands and the passing walkers. “It should never be allowed to become a haven for developers”.

They should know about the benefits of careful development. The couple are very proud of Hanover which they say is regarded as one of the most attractive and 'greenest' cities in Germany. They explain that Hanover's city fathers have gone to enormous lengths to ensure that large forested areas in the city centre have been created and preserved specifically to meet the social and recreational needs of Hanover’s half million citizens.

My thoughts

I have communicated with a further seventy people in a variety of settings, including one of the restaurants along the Strand, to encourage debate about the effects of development on the Strand and the Council's Draft City Plan.

I believe that, in the event that the height recommendations along the Strand are approved, this will simply be the 'thin end of the wedge' that will signal the beginning of a significant change in the character of the Strand - especially as further pressure is brought to bear by developers on current and future councils to raise heights even further.

Given that many recently constructed buildings along the Strand (built under the 3 storey limit period) are already at five storeys, I wonder why the current three storey limit cannot be maintained as an “as-of-right” entitlement with extra height approvals, up to the level of a further two storeys, being subject to the meeting of strictly applied additional obligations such as community consultation and impact assessment.

I believe it is up to the people to make their feelings clear if they are to contribute meaningfully to the future of their community and that they need to voice their concerns for the council to hear.

Your thoughts

The dilemma facing my community in Townsville is one that has already been faced by many other Australian coastal communities. Is the development of our shores an inevitable part of 'progress' or is there a different path to the future?

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Comments

Evlande

The Strand has an iconic location, resonant name, and individual character. Changes, or improvements, should avoid any sense of heedless exploitation, and, ideally, will be based on first examining the essence of its present contribution to the life of Townsville and its people so it can continue to do that, but even better.

Emma

Citizen journalism at its best. Save our strand!!

Helen

This debate is at least five decades old. I remember my high school teacher talking about the Strand (and the Reef and the tropical forests.) She'd say: 'Conservation is such a difficult thing. Any win is only temporary; but any loss, is a loss for ever." Let"s hope the Townsville City Council doesn't misstep.

gin

humans by nature live on boundaries; land | ocean, desert | river... So sad that we as prime (sic) dwellers on our planet run out of unexplored/ unexploited places: what drives our greed and need for growth, but to keep it relevant - try and keep the sunset shadows off the strand